TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION. 215 



the nature of that affection. This will, at any rate, 

 enable the practitioner to compare the therapeutic 

 rules thus obtained with those by which he is now 

 influenced in the employment of the same remedies. 



The first and chief principle to be observed in the 

 treatment of inflammation, is the diminution of that 

 unnatural pressure of the blood contained within the 

 arteries and capillaries of the affected part which 

 occasions its symptoms and immediate effects ; while 

 a second and scarcely less important indication has 

 for its object the removal of those effects. And these 

 two principles will be found to embrace everything 

 of essential importance in the treatment of this 

 affection. But simple as they may appear, their 

 practical application will be found to require the 

 exercise of no little skill and judgment in correctly 

 proportioning the activity of the agents employed to 

 the peculiar necessities of each case. 



In the mode of action of its causes, and in the 

 details of its treatment, acute inflammation differs so 

 materially from those less intense forms of the dis- 

 order which are variously known as asthenic, passive, 

 congestive, chronic, &c., that for practical purposes 

 they may almost be regarded as two distinct diseases. 

 And as it is impossible to consider separately the 

 innumerable shades of intensity which inflammation 

 presents, my remarks will chiefly have reference to 

 well-marked examples of the sthenic and asthenic 

 varieties of the complaint. 



Acute inflammation is in general either the result 

 of the application of some local irritant, or a conse- 



p 4 



